Dehydrator with high field intensity grounded electrode



H. F. FISHER 1,838,924

DEHYDRATOR WITH HIGH FIELD INTENSITY GROUNDED ELECTRODE Dec. 29, 1931.

Filed Sept. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0L0 MC.

/QTYOENEY H. F. FISH-ER Dec. 29, 1931.

DEHYDRATOR WITH HIGH FIELD INTENSITY GROUNDED ELECTRODE Filed Sept. 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f /WF VTOP: //A ENG/V 55/152 7 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE HARMON F. FISHER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO PETROLEUM RECTIFY- ING COMPANY, OF CALIFORNIA, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA 'DEHYDRATOR WITH HIGH FIELD INTENSITY GBOUNDED ELECTRODE Application filed September 18, 1926. Serial No. 135,804.

This invention relates to the art of dehydrating petroleum emulsions and it is embodied in a unique dehydrator.

- My invention relates to a dehydrator which.

is particularly adapted for treating very wet emulsions,'though it is not limited in utility to the treatment of such emulsions,

out field from ,being set ups It is well known.

that an electric field mustbe established in order that agglomeration of the water par-" ticles will be efiected. It is an object of this invention to provid -a dehydrator in which wet emulsion may be (economically and successfully dehydrated. I have found that' short-circuiting between the electrodes of the dehydrator maybe. pre

vented by forming a dielectric barrier between the wet emulsion and one of the electrodes.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dehydrator in which a dielectric barrier or sheath is formed between the emulsion. being treated and one,of the electrodes. .As, a dielectric barrier I may use any 'substance'haw ing the necessary qualities.- I find it very satisfactory to use a dry oil for this purpose. I'have found that there is a marked difference 'in the efiectiveness of an electrical dehydrator dependin upon the character of the electric treating eld and upon the exact part of the field in which the emulsion is treated. By 'the'charactenof the electric 4 By suitable design a dehydrator can be built to provide an electrode of such shape or form that the potential gradient in the treating zone between the two electrodes will not vary uniformly in direct ratio tothe'distanoe between the two, but will be greatly concentrated on the surface of one of them, thus tr-eatingfield I have reference particularly t s.

ed to a relatively. lower stress giving rise to an electrode of a higher or maximum field intensity. For example, in-the case of a uniform distribution across a gap of two .inches between electrodes and across which a potential of 10,000 bolts is im ressed assume a point situated midway of t e two electrodes. The potential difierence between this point and either of the two electrodes will be practically one-half of the total impressed diiference of potential or 5,000 volts. This is equivalent tmali average radie'nt on either side of the midway point 0 5,000 volts perinch On the other hand, a point midway between the electrodes separated two inches apart and designed especially vfor a non-uniform distribution of potential maybe caused to have a potential diiference'between itself and the electrode of lowest fieldintensity of but 2,000- volts and between itself and the""electrode of highest field intensity of 8,000 yolts. In this case, the same total 'difierence of potential impressedacross the two electrodes will be non-uniformly distributed, and the average distribution for the midway point to the electrode of lowest field intensity will be 2,000 volts 'per inch, and the\electrode of highest field intensity will be 8,000 volts per mc If the emulsion is passed at random through this treating space the part which passes through the high intensity field will be'treated very eifectively, whereas the art which passes through the low' intensity eld will be treated but very little. It will be seen then that ifeemulsion is to be efliciently dehydrated in a minimum period of time its passage through the dehydrators treating space must be determined; therefore, if I introduce the emulsion before treatment into that or-.

tion'iof'the field having the maximum eld iifiens-ity or the highest potential gradient perinch, as already referred to above, it, in general, will pass through the field thoroughy treated. Under thwe conditions the fluid surrounding or'adjacent to the electrodejof lowest"field-intensity, and forming a dielectric barrier around said electrode, is subjectthan is the emuls'o'nin he maximum intensity field 'and will not readily rupture, therefore preventing short-circuiting currents between the electrodes and thus maintaining them at the highest possible difference of potential.

My experiments have shown that the most efficient treatment of emulsion is received by causing it to follow along or effectually parallel to the electrode of highest field intensity,

and to form an envelope around this electrode, this envelope travelling lengthwise over the surface of the electrode of highest field intensity for a distance to effect complete treatment. I find that, in general, this distance is relatively short.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dehydrator of the nature mentioned in which the emulsion to be treated is directed along the electrode of highest field intensity.

It is quite essential to the successful operation of the dehydrator of this invention that the dielectric barrier be maintained and not destroyed by mixing with the emulsion. The dry oil is self-healing and if broken will immediately rejoin. Although good results may be obtained when using an ordinary electrode, I find that all danger of the barrier being broken is removed if the electrode of highest field intensity is formed of a material having an affinity for the emulsion It is another object of the invention to provide a dehydrator of the character mentioned in which the electrode along which the emulsion is directed has a surface formed of a material having an aflinity for the fluid moving there adjacent.

In common types of dehydrators the electrode of high-est field intensity is the live or high tension electrode. In my invention I prefer to reverse the standard practice and make the electrode of highest field intensity the grounded electrode. This permits the emulsion inlet to be connected to the electrode of highest field intensity without danger or the use of complicated insulated feeding mechanism.

It is accordingly another object of the invention to provide a dehydrator having a grounded electrode of highest field intensity.

Extensive experimenting to determine what action takes place in a dehydrator to cause coalescing of the water particles has revealed and proven that in the electric field especially Where the field intensity is high, a stream of charged electrolytic particles (or the water particles) are thrown rapidly from the electrode into the body of emulsion.

These charged particles bombard other particles of water in the emulsion joining with them and forming masses which may be separated from the oil by gravity. I have discovered that the discharging of the charged particles from the electrodemay be enhanced by providing the electrode with edges from which, it is found, the charged particles will be rapidly and forcibly shot into the emulsion.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dehydrator in which the charged particles will be actively dispelled from one '(or both) of the electrodes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel method 'of treating a fluid such as petroleum emulsion by passing this fluid through a high intensity portion of an electric field.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a method of treating fluids such as petroleum emulsions in which the fluid is passed through an electric field having a nonuniform voltage gradient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings in which I illustrate my invention.

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section through the central electrode of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing'an alternative form of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to ie inclusive my invention provides a cylindricalshell 11 provided with a tight top 12 and a tight conical bottom 13. Supported by the top 12 is an insulator 14 through which a high tension conductor 15 is extended. The lower end of the conductor 15 supports a frame structure 16 by means of which a live electrode or a shield 17 is supported in proper position inside the shell 11. Extended centrally upward through the bottom 13 is an emulsion inlet pipe 20. The upper end of the emulsion inlet pipe 20 extends inside the live electrode '17 and serves as a grounded electrode 21.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the upper end of the pipe 20 is provided with spacer members in the form of sleeves 22 which are separated by discs 23. Thesleeves and discs are formed from a material such as plaster of Paris or certain kinds of cement which have an aflinity for the emulsion and thus tend to hold the emulsion thereadjacent. A nut 25 is screwed onto the upper end of the pipe 20 so as to tightly clamp the sleeves and discs 22 and 23 against a sleeve 26 of the pipe 20. The nut 25 carries a dome 28 and is provided with emulsion outlet openings 29. An annular passage 30 connects the openings 29 with the exterior of the electrode 21,.this structure forming a distributor means for the fluid to be treated. As shown clearly in the upper part of Fig. 4 the annular-passage 30 is decidedly curved downward at the outer part so that a flow of,emulsion passing there: from Wlll be directed adjacent the surface of 1 v the electrode of highest field intensity. The

' member 34which provides an annular trough 35, thls trough 35 connecting to the interior of the shell 11 through an annular mouth 36. Emulsion is supplied to the trough 35 by 1 meansof'an em ulsion pipe 37. The mouth 36 ofvthe trough 35 is adapted to direct emulsion along the inner face of the shell 11. The inner. face of the shell 11 has flanges 38 extended inward therefrom, the )inner edges of the flanges providin annular edges39 adjacent which the fiel is concentrated so that the field is more intenseadjacent the annular edges .39 than immediately around the electrode 17 c At the upper end of the treater immediately below the cover 12 is a barrier fluid supply pipe 40 which is connected to a pipe 41. The barrier fluid supply pipe 40 is annular and is provided with a multiplicity of small openings 42. Supported'by suitable arms 44 immediately below the supply pipe 40 is a deflector plate 45.

In Fig. 1 the nume al 47 represents a trans former, one side of thesecondary of which is connected by a conductor48to the conductor rod 16 and the other side .of the secondary conductor 49. The shell 11v and the emulsion supply p1pe 20 is grounded, as indicated at 50. The operation of the invention is substantrally as follows:

The barrier fluid supply pipe 40 is adapted to supply a dielectric fluid to the treating spaces 52 and 53 which exist between the electrode 21 and the electrode 17 and between the shell 11 and the electrode 17. Any suitable dielectric fluid may be used, but for the purpose of convenience and because of its desirable qualities- I prefer to use a dry oil. The dry Oll 1s sprayed downward through the small openings 42 and is deflected by the deflector so that it will flow on opposite sides of'thelive electrode 17 in the treating spaces 52 and 53. The dry oil provides dielectric;

barriers in these treating spaces as indicated at 55 and 56 in Flg. 1a A continuous flow of dry 011 is conducted at all times when the dehydrator in operation so that the dielectric v barrier w1ll be maintained at all times.

The dry oil maybe withdrawn with the treated emulsion through an outlet pipe 57 which is provided in the bottom 13. i

Emulsion is supplied to the emulsion inlet pipe 20, flowing from the upper end there- I of through the openings 29 and the annular passage 30. As previously explained, the annular passage 30 directs the emulsion downward adjacent the surfaces of the electrode -This makes it possible to accomplish a thorough and satisfactory treatment of the emulsion and prevents the dielectric shield from being destroyed by a mixture with the emulsion. It is not absolutely essential to have the central electrode 21 formed with a surface of this material but it is desirable because better-results may beobtained. Experiments have been made using an ordinary electrode for the central electrode and fairly good results have been obtained, but better.

results are often obtained when the electrode has a surface of a material such as plaster of Paris. c

The emulsion being directed along the surfaces of the electrode 21 hangs thereto as indicated by dotted lines 59 in Fig. 1. By the time the emulsion reaches the .lower end of the electrode it has been thoroughly treated and the water content thereof is agglomerated into masses which are of sufiicient size to gravitate from the oil when it is delivered to a-separating tank. The treated emulsion is taken from the dehydrator through the outlet pipe 57.

Emulsion is also supplied through the pipe I 37 to the trough 35. This emulsion is directed by, the mouth 36 along the inner surface of the shell 11 as indicated by dotted lines 60 of Fig. 1. This emulsion flows downward to the lower part of the shell 11 and is thoroughly treated in its passage through the treating space 53. This treated emulsion is also wlthdrawn through the pipe 57. The dehydratin action which takes place will now be exp ained.

The dehydrating action which takes place in the treating space 53 is substantially the same .as that which takes place in the treating space 52; therefore, it is thought to be suflicient to explain 0 y the action taking place in the treating s ace 52. A high lectric potential ismaintained between the electrodes of the treater. The shell 11 and the central electrode 21, being grounded, are at ground potential, and the live electrode 17 is a very high potential. The electrode 21, since'it is in the center, is the electrode of highest field intensity. This is because of the fact that the electric field spreads l is therefore subjected to the actionof that portion of the field which is of maximum intensity. As the emulsion flows downward, as indicated .by the arrows 58, it is treated by the electric field and the particles of water gradient. As indicated in the lower part of Fig. 4 water masses 62 moving downward along the surfaces of the electrode 21 pass outward onto the discs 23 and when they reach the edges 32 thereof, they pass into the extremely high potential gradient field and certain thereof are discharged violently outward, being broken up into small charged.

particles as indicated at 63. These small charged particles 63 strike against other trode 17. This in effect is the same as the barto bound charges in the treating space 52 and cause a coalescing by reason of the bombarding action and also by reason of the fact that the charged particles 63'may be of a different charge than theparticles with which they come in contact. Asthe lower end of the elect-rode 21 is reached the emulsion is completely treated and the water particles are all agglomerated into masses of suilicient size to gravitate from the oil when the mixture of vliater and oil is delivered to a separating tan The dielectriebarrier 55 provides a shield which prevents the chaining of Water fiow of dielectric fluid and emulsion'is shown as taking place downward, it may be reversed and passed upward through the shell. This dielectric is important to the invention since it entirely eliminates short-circuitin and prevents an ,excessive current from being drawn, and by so doing permits the emulsion to be readily treated. My invention is particularly adapted for treating very wet emulsions which cannot be treated in the ordinary dehydrator because of the short-circuiting characteristics of the oil. In my invention' all short-circuiting is prevented; consequently the wet emulsions may besuccessfully treated.

I have found that. in some instances it is not necessary to provide the dielectric barriers 55 and'56. This is probably dueto the fact that the attraction between the-electrode 21 and the wet emulsion is so great that the wet emulsion and also the masses of water will hang to the electrode 21, whereas the dry or, de-emulsified oil will move in the treating spaceto'a position near the live elecrier of dry oil and differs only in that the barrier is notformed from a separate oil .but' is formed from oil which has'been deemulsified.

In the drawings I have not shown the inner face of the treater 11 and the flanges-36 which form a grounded electrode as being par-' ticles across the two electrodes. Although the formed of a material having an afiinity for the emulsion. It should be understood that if desirable this may be done and falls within the scope of the invention.

The edges 32 and 39 are an im ortant auxiliary feature of the invention ecause they providevery high potential gradient field zones which cause an augmented discharge of the small charged particles into the treating space. Theseedges arenot in all cases essential, however, and successful treating, but to a somewhat reduced degree, can also be accomplished with electrodes having no sharp edges 32 and 39. A treater having a smooth inner'electrode, is shown and claimed in my co-pending a plication Serial No. 203,253, filed July 2, 192?. As previously explained these zones accelerate the dehydration .of emulsion. l

It should be noted particularly that in my invention the central electrode 21 which is the electrode of highest field intensity is grounded. This is reverse to standard practice and is an important part of the invention since it has certain novel features. \By grounding the central electrode 21 it is possible to extend the emulsion inlet 20 therethrough and to direct the emulsion along the to. If desired the central electrode may be the live electrode, suitable insulation being provided.

In Fig. 5, I show a modified form of the invention which isrmoreor less an extension of the idea of the form shown in Fig. 1. The form shown fragmentarily in Fig. 5 consists of a central grounded electrode 100, an intermediate grounded electrode 101 and a shell 102 which serves as an outer grounded electrode. Supported by a conductor 103 which is equivalent to the conductor 16 of Fig. 1 is a frame structure 104 which supports an inner live electrode 105 and an outer live electrode .106, the electrodes 105 and 106 being placed between the grounded electrodes 100, 101 and 102.. Emulsion is supplied adjacent the face of the central grounded electrode 100 by means of an annular passage 108 formed at the upper end thereof. Emulsion is supplied the opposite faces of the intermediate grounded electrode 101 by an emulsion supply pipe 109 which has orifices 110and 111. Emulsion is supplied to the inner face of the 'shell 102 bv means of an annular trough 113. The central electrqloef 100 is provided with edges 115 by means which'extremely high potential fields may beobtainedr The interco-pending application Serial No. 143,933,

. 5 side thereof. Edges 119 are provided on the shell/ 102 for obtaining the same effect. It should be noted that the spaces between the pairs of electrodes gradually decrease as the outside is reached. As the electrodes are increased in diameter the normal field intensity at the active treating surface and edge is decreased, but by making the treating spaces narrower the desirable potential gradient is maintained. It is'possible in carrying out the scheme of the invention to provide any number of concentric electrodes. For practical purposes, however, at the present time it is thought that the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 is most satisfactory and most economical in its treatment of emulsions.

Certain modifications of the basic idea and structure disclosedherein are also shown and claimed in certain co-pending. ap lications. For instance, my application erial No. 203,253 supra :disclpses -a system utilizing the basic principles herein disclosed, but one which differs in providing a high velocit method .of introduction, as well as inprovi ing a novel dielectric circulating system andanovel shape of electrode. Similarly, in my filed October 25, 1926, I have disclosed an electric treater: and a novel process whereby- 1 charged particles of a charging fluid are'in- 35 troduced into the fluid to be treated. Various 470 methods rather than to the broad structure .and methods herein disclosed.

I claim as-my invention: 1

1. In adehydrator of the class described,

and a'secori'dary electrode, one ofsaid electrodes being provided with anemulsion guide formed ofmate'i'ial having an aflinity for the emulsion.

' 2. In a'dehydrator of the class described, the combination of: a primary electrode; a secondaryelectrode; and'means for directing an emulsion to be treated along the surface which said emulsion is directed being rovided with an-emulsion guide form material having an aflinity for saidemul sion.

' 3. In a dehydrator'of the class demribed, the combination of a primary'electrode; a

"secondary electrode; means for directing an emulsion to be treated along the surface of pm of said electrodes, said electrodealong which said 'emulsion'is directed being pro-' v vided with an, emulsion guide formed of "Wmaterial having an aflinity for said emul- .higher dielectric the combination of:,a p rima'ry electrode;

of one of said electrodes, said electrode along P sion; and a dielectric barrier between said emulsion and the other of said electrodes.

4. In a dehydrator of thevclass described,

the combination of: a live electrode; a grounded electrode; means for directing an emulsion to be treated along the surface of one of said electrodes, said electrode along y which said emulsion is directed being provided with an emulsion guide formed of material having an aifinity for said emulsion,

said electrode along which said emulsion is directed havin means for establishing'zones of maximum eld potential adient; and a dielectric barrier between said emulsion and the other of said electrodes.

5. In/ an apparatus for dehydrating petroleum emulsions, the combination of: an electrode surrounded b a layer of the emulsion to be treated; an means for surrounding said layer of emulsion with a moving fluid envelope of higher dielectric strength than said emulsion.

6. In an apparatussfor dehydrating emulpetroleum emulsions, the combination of: an electrode surrounded by a layer of the emulsion to be treated; a sheath formed about and forming a part ofsaid electrode, said sheath having an afiinity for said emulsion so as to retain said emulsion close to said electrode; and means for surrounding said layer of emulsion with a moving fluid envelope of strength than said emulsion. 7 t 8. In an apparatus for dehydratlng petro eum emulsions, the combination of: an electrode surrounded by a layer of the emulsion to be treated; and a sheath formed about and forming a part of said electrode, said sheath having an aflinity for said emulsion so 'as to retain said emulsion close to said electrode.

9. In combination in an electric treater: a

intermediate electrode between said pair of electrodes, said intermediateelectrode being at a secondary potential, there being treating spaces between said intermediate electrode air of electrodes at a primary potential; an,

and each of said pair of electrodes adapted. v

to contain a fluid to be treated; and means for directing a flow of dielectric barrier fluid adjacent each side of said intermediateelectrode.

10. In an electric treater of the class described, the combination of: a primary electrode having a surfgce thereon adapted to hold a flow of fluid to be treated in contact therewith; relatively sharp ledges extending a distance from said surface, said ledges being formed of a material having an aflinity for said fluid to cause said fluid to cling thereto when flowing along said electrode; a'

secondary electrode; and means for establishing a potential difference between said electrodes.

11. In an electric treater, the combination of: a pair of electrodes; means for establishing an electric potential between said electrodes, said electrodes being so constituted or arranged as to establish an electric field of non-uniform intensity therebetween; and

means for passing a dielectric barrier fluid jected to the action of the most intense portion of said electric field; and maintaining a body of fluid of higher dielectric strength than the emulsion to be treated in that portion of said field adjacent the outer of said concentric electrodes.

13. A method of treating a fluid by means of an electric field established between a pair of electrodes, one of which provides a body with a ledge thereon extending toward the other'electrode, which method includes the step of passing a relatively thin stream of fluid along said electrode having said ledge and in contact therewith, said stream of fluid following outward around said ledge and returning inward toward the body of said electrode without breaking contact with the surface of said ledge.

14. In an electric dehydrator, the combination of: primary and secondary electrodes between which is established an electric field of non-uniform intensity, that portion of the field adjacent said primary electrode being more intense than that portion of the field adjacent said secondary electrode;

and means for directing a stream of the emulsion to be treated adjacent the surface of said primary electrode and into the most intense portion of said field.

15. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a central electrode having an opening formed longitudinally therethrough; a surrounding electrode around said central electrode; means for establishing an electric ciated with said central electrode for .form-- ing said fluid passing through said qopening into a fluid envelope surrounding said central electrode.

16. A combination as defined-in claim 15 in which said central electrode is grounded.

17. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a central elect-rode having an opening formed longitudinally therethrough; a surrounding electrode around said central electrode; means for establishing an electric field between said electrodes; means for supplying a fl'uid to be treated to one end of said opening of said central electrode, said fluid flowing therethrough in a given direction; and distributor means at the other end of said central electrode and communicating with said opening for discharging said fluid in the form of a fluid envelope surrounding and in contact with the surface of said cen tral electrode, said distributor means dis- 'cha'rging said fluid envelope in a direction substantially opposite said given direction. 18. In an electric treater, the combination of: a central grounded electrode; a live electrode around said central electrode and defining a treating space therearound, said live electrode being electrically insulated from said grounded electrode; and distributor means electrically connected to said central electrode for introducing fluid into said treating space and adjacent said central electrode in the form of a fluid envelope moving therealong.

19. In a treater, the combination of: a primary electrode comprising a plurality of spacer members, and discs separating adjacent spacer members and extending therebeyond; and a secondary electrode spaced from said primary electrode.

20. In a treater, the combination of: a primary electrode comprising a plurality of sleeves, a disc between adjacent sleeves, and supportin means extending through said sleeves an discs; and a secondary electrode spaced from said primary electrode.

21. In an electric dehydrator, the combination of: a central electrode; a surrounding electrode; means for impressing a dif-" central electrode for supplying an envelope of fluid around and in contact with the surface of said central electrode, said distributor means being at the same potential as said central electrode.

22. In an apparatus for dehydrating a pctroleum emulsion, the combination of: means including apair of spaced electrodes for setting up an electric field which is much more intense adjacent the surface of one of said electrodes than adjacent the surface of the other; and an emulsion guide positioned on said electrode adjacent which the field is more intense and having an aflinity for said emulsion for retaining thereagainst the e'mulsion to be treated.

23. A method of treating a petroleum emulsion by the use of a pair of electrodes so constituted or arranged as to be capable of establishing an electric field therebetween of greater intensity adjacent one of said electrodes than acent the other, which method includes the steps of: impressing a potential diflerence across said electrodes to set up said electric field; circulating in the more intense portion of said field a stream of emulsion; and simultaneously circulating in a less intense portion of said field a fluid of higher dielectric strength than said emulsion in said stream.

24. A method of treating a petroleum emulsion containing water particles dispersed in oil and by the use of an electric field formed between concentric electrodes so constituted or arranged as to set up a field therebetween which is much more intense adjacent one electrode .than adjacent the other, which methodincludes the steps of: moving concentrio envelopes of said emulsion and-a fluid of higher dielectric strength through said field to agglomerate said dispersed water particles, the envelope ofiemulsion being ,closest to the electrode adjacent which the field is most intense; removing the treated emulsion from between said electrodes before material separation of said agglomerat-' ed. water particles from said oil takes place therebetween; and subsequently separating said agglomerated water particles from said oil.

25, A method of treating an emulsion by I the use of a field established between a pair of electrodes so constituted or arranged as to establish an electric field of non-uniform intensity thereacross, the field adjacent one of said electrodes being much more intense than adjacent the other of said electrodes, which method includes the steps of: impressing a potential difference across.'said electrodes to set up said electric field of non-uniform intensity; and circulating in said electric field and longitudinally along the electrode adjacent which said field is-most intense, a stream of the emulsion to be treated, said stream of said emulsion flowing in contact with said electrode adjacent which said field is most intense and being of insuflicient thickness to. completely bridge said electrodes. i

26. In a dehydrator, the combination of: V a central electrode of small diameter; means for establishing an electric field around said central electrode, said field being highly concentrated immediately adjacent the surfaceof saidcentral electrode; and a distributor means for circulating a fluid to be treated in said field and forming a fluid envelope of said fluid flowing smoothly along and immediately around'said central electrode so as to pass through the most intense portion of said field and adjacent a body of liquid of higher dielectric strength than said fluid to be treated .the steps of: establishing a difference in potential between said electrodes to set up an electric field therebetween of extremely high intensity immediately adjacent said central electrode and of much lower intensity adjacent said surrounding electrode; forming a portion of said emulsion in the form ofa fluid envelope engaging the external surface of said central electrode; moving said fluid envelope longitudinally along and in contact with said central electrode for a material portion of its length to agglomerate said dispersed water phase; and movin said fluid envelope away from said central 6 ectrode and into a settling zone wherein said agglomerated water phase settles from said oil phase.

28. A method of treating involving the use of two liquids one of lower dielectric strength than the other, which method includes the steps of: establishing an electric field of nonuniform intensity; "subjecting the liquid of .lower dielectric strength to the action of the more intense portion of theelectric field; and maintaining the-liquid of higher dielectric strength in a portion of the field of lower intensity.

29. In an electric treater, the' combination of: a grounded shell; a sleeve-shaped electrode insulated from and positioned in said shell; a small central electrode extending axially into said sleeve-shaped electrode; means for establishing a difference of potential between said central and said sleeve-shaped elec-' .trode and between said sleeve-shaped electrode and said shell whereby fields are set up therebetween, the'fieldbetween said central and said'sleeVe-shaped electrode being highly concentrated immediately around said central electrode; and means for introducing fluid into only the most intense portion of said'concentrated field and immediately adj acent said central electrode whereby said fluid may flow through the most intense portion of said concentrated field without bridging said central and said sleeve-shaped electrode.

30; In an electric dehydrator, the combination of: an electrode having a surface which has a selective aflinity for water over oil and which terminates in a sharp edge at which there is a. concentrated electric field; and

surface in such a manner that they are vio lently projected from said edge by said concentrated field.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 10th day of September, 1926.

' HARMON' F. FISHER.

- means for delivering Waterparticl-es to said 5 

